Tweaking tradition

April 03, 2007

Making Valentine's Day your own Attention all husbands, wives, boyfriends and girlfriends: Wednesday is Valentine's Day. But just because the marketing folks at area stores have decided to emblazon everything from boxer shorts to stuffed animals with red hearts, it doesn't necessarily mean they make great gifts. The key to reclaiming over-commercialized holidays is to make them your own. Tweak the boring basics

Instead of a standard card, get a box of valentines, the type elementary kids give out to classmates. Write something sweet on each one and then wrap up the whole box, or place them all over the house/car/her purse. You could also write a love note on the bathroom mirror with dry erase markers.

Instead of a box of chocolates, give chocolate-covered pretzels. Bonus points for homemade.

A movie probably won't win you any creativity points, but if you're both always on-the-go, it could be just the relaxing thing you need. Try switching up what you normally do. If you always go out to the theater, rent one and stay in. Not only is there a wider selection that's easier on the wallet, but you can cuddle in the comfort of your own couch. No fussing with cramped leg room and that unyielding armrest between you. If you always rent, go out to see it on the big screen. Don't forget to splurge just this once on the spendy treats.

Flowers don't have to be boring. Instead of a dozen roses all at once, make the loving last all day. Give her one at a time. Keep her guessing when the next will come. I once heard about a guy who enlisted people throughout his girlfriend's work day (co-workers, deli counter guy where she always eats lunch, etc.) to help. Or forgo the standard roses and do something unexpected, like tulips.

Dinner reservations can be tough to come by because everyone has the same idea. Instead, you could shun the crowds and recreate the meal and atmosphere of your first date at a restaurant at home. If you ate at an Italian place, play Italian music while you cook pasta together. You could even dress up just to stay in. Maybe it won't be as polished as the meal cooked by professionals, but it will probably be just as tasty and you can have fun doing it together. Bonus: If the slow dancing bug hits you, you won't have to get up in front of a crowd. Active options

If you and your significant other like to be active, why not plan a day of ice skating or sledding? Acting like kids together can be invigorating. (And skating is good even if you're bad. Use it as an excuse to grab his or her hand.)

If the weather doesn't cooperate or if you prefer to be active inside, try roller skating, or bowling, or indoor golf. Artsy options

Collect silly photographs of you and your sweetie and put together a scrapbook of your relationship. Don't forget to add messages, quotes, song lyrics or ticket stubs. Or, spend the day snapping spontaneous pics of whatever you do, and make a mini-scrapbook of just that day later.

Make a mixed CD, either of songs you'll both understand the meaning behind, or songs that remind you of him/her (with explanations if necessary). Or have a mixed CD competition to see who can get the word "love" on it more times (in lyrics or song titles). Then listen together and steal a smooch each time the word comes up. Extend the day

Learn something new together. Sign up for karate or knitting lessons. Classes around town starting up in the next few weeks offer everything from sign language to break dancing.

Give tickets to a favorite sporting event next month, or a theater performance, or a weekend getaway this spring. It's nice to have something to look forward to. For singles Don't have a sweetie? That's no reason to boycott a perfectly good holiday.

Plan a night out with other single friends. Besides reminding you of your other blessings, friends tied down with serious-relationship plans won't know what they're missing when you plan a sledding, skating or bar-hopping outing of your own. (In Bulgaria, Feb. 14 is Viticulturists' day, based on the cult of Dionysus, god of merriment and wine.)

Stay in with friends. Play spin the bottle just for kicks. If you're feeling spiteful, bake heart-shaped cookies and take turns writing a certain name (or names) in frosting and then smashing them (or eating them violently).

Or just treat yourself. Get a massage. Buy yourself whatever you've been lusting over.

If you'd really rather not acknowledge the pseudo-holiday at all, there are other reasons to celebrate. Like the day Oregon and Arizona became states, or the anniversary of the 100th space walk. Or the birthdays of Watergate journalist Carl Bernstein, former NFL quarterback Drew Bledsoe, or George Washington Gale Ferris, the inventor of the ferris wheel. Whether Valentine's Day is your first date or you've been married 20 years, take the time to listen to clues of what would make that special someone in your life (even if that's you) happy, whether its an evening of romantic basics or a wild and crazy tweak on tradition. - Sarah Ottney, American - ews writer www.aberdeennews.com Sunday, February 11, 2007 1E